Speakers - JBL vs. Peavey

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 22 Mar 2001 12:32 am

How would you compare the sound of a 15" JBL to a Peavey Black Widow?

Brad Sarno
St. Louis, MO

Bill C. Buntin · Post by **Bill C. Buntin** » 22 Mar 2001 3:22 am

I assume you mean a Peavey 1501 Black Widow vs. a JBL D-130. If that is the case, I use the D130F (Recone) over the 1501. The Lows are more definite. Less Muddy than the 1501. Talk to Ricky Davis. He is the JBL d130 MAN. Ricky says if you can find an original D130F JBL that has never been reconed, is a REAL GOOD speaker.

Overall, I would use either speaker, cause the 1501 BW is a good speaker. I just like the JBL a little better. Regards.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 22 Mar 2001 4:22 am

The JBL's sound a little "stiff" to me, compared to the BW. If I wanted the "retro" or older Fender sound then the JBL would be my choice. If I wanted the current sound that many of the Nashville steelers use then Peavey is the way to go.

I have a pair of JBL D-120F's (original - not reconed ) that came out of a AB768 chassis Fender Twin Reverb. I've compared them to the 12" Peavey BW 1203 speakers (used in the Nashville 112E enclosure) and the JBL's, using my MosValve 500 power amp and my Transtube Fex, make my Franklin D-10 sound a little like the old Fender 2000 that I used to have played through the Twin Reverb. That's good, again for those that like that sound, but I'm more comfortable with the BW sound I'm getting.

I get (great) comments about my sound with that system and BW speakers and I've even had musician's come up on stage and want to see what I'm using because of the great sound.

John Knight · Post by **John Knight** » 23 Mar 2001 10:42 am

I have 2 Nashville 400's one with a JBL and one with the BW. For me in a side by side I have done the JBL gives me a warmer, richer, tone, clear and good string seperation, the BW is edgey and bright. I fight the mids and a muddy sound on both. This test was done running from my guitar, volumn pedal and then amp. So there was no other tone processing going on. My guitar also has George L pickups.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 23 Mar 2001 8:40 pm

I have a Peavey LTD 400 with the Original 15 inch JBL D-130 4 ohm and I really like the bell like tone that I get.

I had a Nashville 400 with 15 inch BW and did not like the tone as well. Seems to be a definite difference to my ears......al

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 23 Mar 2001 10:03 pm

When people compare different speakers, they never talk about one of the most important things; Sound vs distance. As sound travels it changes quickly. I once had a amp that sounded warm and wonderful on stage. I had another amp that sounded cold metalic and brittle on stage. When a recorder was set up 60 feet out front of the stage, the amp that sounded metalic, cold and brittle on stage sounded twice as good as the amp that sounded wonderful on stage. A friend of mine played my steel and I went out front and listed. The recorder was right!
The sound you get on stage is not "always" the sound you get out front. Your best bet is to have someone play your instrument and get out front and listen. Just my opinion.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 24 Mar 2001 8:20 am

I recently switched over to EVM-15L speakers.
Electro-Voice no longer makes them
but they can still be found occasionally. Check 'em out if you ever get the chance.
Excellent high end & low end with just the
right amount of mids with<font color=brown>NO MUD.</font>

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<img src=http://jsganz.tripod.com/AngryMan.gif>
<font face=binnerD color=red size=4> "Turn up the dang steel!!!"